The Old East Side in Kansas City, Mo.

  Before I entered high school, my world consisted of 24th to 27th Street, Jackson Avenue to Hardesty.  We walked along 24th Street from Cypress to Brighton Avenue every school day from Kindergarten to seventh grade.  It was seven and a half city blocks; lots of steps for little short legs.  We walked with the Nash kids most days.  During bad weather we'd all pile into Fran Nash's old Nash automobile for the welcome ride.  Walking home on 24th Street every day I became familiar with all the businesses.  I have a detailed drawing/map that I'd be happy to show anyone interested. Following is just a small part of the businesses from Jackson to Spruce.

On the northeast corner of 24th & Jackson was a drug store, Dave Maney's Drug Store, later Young's Drug Store, next to the east was Closser's Meat Market, later Floy's Beauty Shop, then 24th St. Cleaners, Hyers Tavern (renamed My Excuse Tavern), then Joe Kessler's Shoe Repair.  On the northwest corner of 24th & Jackson was Slocum's Filling Station.  Southeast corner was Sheerer's Meat Market and a plaque that said "Center of Santa Fe Trail", then more stores - Martin's Bakery (Grace Wolfe), Sis's Chili Parlor - Minute Steaks, and a real estate office.

There were many more businesses on 24th St., but the ones I remember best are the Ashland Theater at 24th & Elmwood, where my Mom and Dad first met in 1927; Pat Gallagher's Tavern at 24th & Lister, where everyone brought their kids and we sang Irish songs and I danced with my Dad by standing on top of his shoes.

Another 24th Street memory was a roller skating rink at 24th & Denver.  My Dad was quite an athlete and he and Mom would take us skating on Friday nights.  He and Mom would skate and dance to the music and sometimes they would skate to the center and they'd twirl around and Dad would lift Mom over his head and then lower her and continue skating.  What beautiful memories I have and what a lucky kid I was.

You're probably completely bored by now, so will end this with a promise to write again sooner.